Napa River Striper.

So I have hit the river a few times to far trolling for stripers. I have launched at both the riverside drive launch and the cuttings wharf launch. I trolled up and down the river with the tide with rattle traps, some storm swim baits, broken back rapla and a few other trolling spoon things I do not know the name of.

Have not had a hit yet. I am trolling between 2.5 & 4 per my gps and watching the rod tip for action. Am I on the right path and just need to put in my time or am I missing something.

I appreciate  that it is fishing and not just catching. Just want to make sure I am not working the water with the equivalent of a hook with no bait.

Thanks,
Phil

Phil, instead of trolling, why don't you drift with the current and cast and retrieve that Rat-L-Trap until you can't take it anymore. Make sure your drifting not too far from the bank, you don't want to be in the middle of the river. Trolling for stripers on a yak is tough because you have to maintain a pretty decent speed. 4-5mph. The cast and retrieve method works for me. Also, while drifting, keep an eye on your fish finder for structure, hang just down current of any bottom structure you find and cast and retrieve. Cast up current and retrieve with the current, baitfish dont swim up current, make that bait look as natural as possible.
Also, set up a quick release anchor and soak some live bait.
We are just getting into the fall striper season so keep at it, and it will happen for you.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I haven't thought of that. I will give it a shot next time out. Are you catching your live bait or buying it locally. Mud suckers? I will let you know when my luck changes.

Hey Phil... I was jus out there yesterday and got into 4 stripers on the troll with a chrome and blue rattle trap. I launched from cuttings wharf on the start of incoming. Peddle trolled to look for structure or schools with the ff down about 1/2 mil past Brazos bridge. I got into the fish around 6 to 12 ft and I front of the mouths of the little outlets. On the way back I used the tide to pushe back to the launch and drift casted towards the bank... Seemed to work. Will be there again on wed and Friday jus before top of tide. Keep at it bro... Fall striper run has jus started...

Depending where in the Delta I am, I'll buy Bullheads or catch Bluegill.

This is just me, and I'm no expert but from what I understand, stripers have to keep moving to pass water over their gills to breathe. Unlike bass, who can hover and suck water past their gills. So when I'm going to fish for stripers, I rely on my graph for depth and structure more than I do arches because I figure they are swimming around a certain area rather than hanging out there. But that's just me, I'm no expert.

Remember when fishing live bait, if you hook your baitfish through the mouth, only hook them through the top lip, both lips and you will suffocate the bait and they will die. Took my dumb ass a while to figure that one out.

Jeff